Student Survey #2 - Winter 2004

As part of an ongoing effort to understand and meet the needs of our clients, Computer Lab Management (CLM) conducted a student survey on April 2, 2004. The survey was sent to 1000 students who used the computer classrooms during the Winter 2004 quarter. There were 92 respondents.

Survey Results and Interpretation

The impact of the increase in number of laptop users is decreased by the answers given in question #5.  Only 48% of the laptops have wireless cards and most students rarely (56%) or never (22%) bring their laptops to campus.  It appears that while increased wireless and power availability would encourage students to bring laptops, there are other reasons why students are not interested in bringing a laptop to campus.  From the comments it appears some students believe laptops are just too heavy and fragile to be carried around campus all day.  The issues around laptop use on campus should be investigated further in the next survey.


Survey Details

Survey Text
Survey Results Details
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Survey Text

On 4/2/2004 the following survey was set to 1000 students who had used the computer classrooms since the start of the Winter quarter.
   
   Computer Lab Management periodically surveys computer room users in
order to make adjustments and meet customer needs. This survey helps us
determine what changes and improvements are most appropriate. We would
like your input to determine what changes you feel would improve our
services.  Please answer the following questions by putting an "x" or
text, as appropriate, between the square brackets provided (eg. [x]).
Since a program will automatically tally your responses for later
analysis, please keep your responses between the square brackets provided.

  Thank you for your time and input.

                        Tim Leamy
                        Computer Lab Management
                        Classroom Technology Services                   
                        tcleamy@ucdavis.edu

*****  Computer Room Survey *****

1. Class Standing: [] First year        [] Second year
                   [] Third year        [] Fourth year
                   [] Fifth or more year[] Masters candidate
                   [] PhD candidate     [] Professional School

2. Why do you use the computer rooms (please mark all that apply)
  [] Don't own a computer
  [] Need to access the web (Mozilla and Internet Explorer)
  [] Need to check/reply to email
  [] Need to print class assignments
  [] Need to print class materials from the web
  [] Need to access specialized software which is not on home computer
  [] Need to access special hardware (scanners, video editors, etc.)
  [] Campus computers have faster access to the network (web, email, etc)
  [] Campus computers are more convenient than mine
  [] Campus computers work better than mine
  [] Class meets in a computer room
  [] To access student information (RSVP, grades, financial aid info,
     classes enrolled)
  [] Other (please describe): []

3. Do you own a computer?
  [] Yes
  [] No   (If NO please skip to question #7.)

4. If you own a computer please answer the following:  (If you own more
than one computer please respond for the one you use most often.)

  Type:      [] Desktop     [] Laptop

  Platform:  [] Macintosh   [] PC/IBM compatible
             [] Other       [] Don't know

  Operating System: (if use multiple select primary one)
             [] Mac OS 9      [] Mac OS X
             [] Mac - not sure what version
             [] Windows 95    [] Windows 98     [] Windows NT
             [] Windows 2000  [] Windows ME     [] Windows XP
             [] Windows - not sure what version  
             [] Linux         [] Other Unix
             [] Other           

  Printer:   [] None        [] Ink Jet     [] Laser       
             [] Other       [] Don't Know

  Network Connection:  [] 56K modem     [] 28.8K or slower modem
                       [] DSL           [] Cable Modem
                       [] High speed provided by apartment complex
                       [] Satellite     [] None
                       [] Don't know
                       [] Other:  please specify [     ]
     Is your network connection shared with your roommates: [] Yes [] No
  
  Peripherals:  DVD-R/RW   [] Yes   [] No   [] Don't know
                DVD-ROM:   [] Yes   [] No   [] Don't know    
                CD-RW:     [] Yes   [] No   [] Don't know    
                CD-ROM:    [] Yes   [] No   [] Don't know    
                Zip drive: [] Yes   [] No   [] Don't know
                Floppy:    [] Yes   [] No   [] Don't know    
                Scanner:   [] Yes   [] No   [] Don't know    
                USB drive: [] Yes   [] No   [] Don't know    

  How do you usually transfer files from your computer to computers on 
campus?
        [] mySpace(in myUCDavis)        [] Floppy disk
        [] Zip disk                     [] CD-RW 
        [] USB storage device
        [] Email the file to myself     
        [] Other - please specify [                  ]

5. If you own a laptop please answer the following questions.  Otherwise 
skip to question #6.

   Does your laptop have a wireless card?
     [] Yes
     [] No
     [] Don't know

   How often do you bring your laptop to campus?
     [] Every day
     [] Several times a week
     [] Rarely
     [] Never

   What could the campus do to encourage you to bring your laptop
to campus more often.
     [] Increase wireless coverage
     [] Increase number of available network ports
     [] Increase available power outlets
     [] Offer wireless printing
     [] Other [     ]

   Do you have any other comments about laptop usage?
     [    ]

6. If you are waiting for a computer in a lab, and one of the other type is
available (ie.  You own a PC but a Mac is available) would you:
 [] Use the available computer
 [] Wait until the type you own is available

7.  Due to the instability of data on floppy disks, we have considered 
not including floppy drives for any new computers we purchase. How would 
this change affect you?
  [] Not at all - I use other methods to transfer files
  [] A little - I sometimes use floppies
  [] A lot - I always use floppies

8. Do you have any other suggestions or comments?
 [   ]

Thank you for your time and input.

Survey Results Details

There were 92 responses. Not all respondents answered all of the questions.

1. Class Standing

Class Number Percentage
First Year 13 14.1%
Second Year 20 21.7%
Third Year 23 25.0%
Fourth Year 19 20.7%
Fifth Year 5 5.4%
Masters candidate 4 4.3%
PhD candidate 8 8.7%
Professional School 0 0%

2. Why do you use the computer rooms?

Reason Number Percentage
Don't own a computer 3 3.3%
Need to access the web 41 44.6%
Need to check/reply to email 51 55.4%
Need to print class assignments 72 78.3%
Need to print class materials from the web 75 81.5%
Need to access specialized software not at home computer 19 20.7%
Need to access special hardware 9 9.8%
Campus computers have faster access to the network 23 25.0%
Campus computers are more convenient than theirs 27 29.3%
Campus computers work better than theirs 10 10.9%
Class meets in a computer room 11 12.0%
To access student information (RSVP, grades, financial aid, classes enrolled) 37 40.2%
Other 9 9.8%

Reasons given for "Other":

3. Do you own a computer?

 

 

Percent
Yes

89

96.7%
No 3 3.3%

4. If you own a computer please answer the following:
Note: all the percentages reported for this question are of the students who own a computer, not all students.

What type of computer do you own?

  Number Percentage
Desktop 47 52.8%
Laptop 42 47.2%

What computer platform or brand do you use?

  Number Percentage
Macintosh 6 6.7%
PC/IBM compatible 80 89.9%
Other 0 0%
Don't know 1 1.1%

 

What type of operating system do you use?

Operating System Number Percentage
Mac OS 9 1 1.1
Mac OS X 6 6.7%
Mac-not sure 0 0.0%

Windows 95

1 1.1%
Windows 98 5 5.6%
Windows NT 1 1.1%
Windows 2000 10 11.2%
Windows ME 7 7.9%
Windows XP 57 64.0%
Windows - not sure 1 1.1%
Linux 0 0.0%
Other Unix 0 0.0%
Other 0 0.0%

What type of printer do you own?

  Number Percentage
None 19 21.3%
Ink Jet 57 64.0%
Laser 8 9.0%
Other 2 2.2%
Don't know 3 3.4%

What type of network connection do you have at home?

  Number Percentage
56K modem 18 20.2%
28.8K or slower modem 1 1.1%
DSL 47 52.8%
Cable Modem 2 2.2%
High speed provided by apartment complex 14 15.7%
Satellite 0 0.0%
None 0 0.0%
Don't know 2 2.2%`
Other 5 5.6%

Other network types given:

Are you sharing the network connection with your roommates?

  Number Percentage
Yes 55 61.8%
No 14 15.7%

What type of peripherals do you have at home?

  Yes No Don't Know Percentage of "Yes"
DVD-R/RW 15 60 5 16.9%
DVD-ROM 55 25 4 61.8%
CD-RW 59 15 7 66.3%
CD-ROM 67 11 1 75.3%
Zip Drive 16 46 10 18.0%
Floppy 69 12 1 77.5%
Scanner 23 54 2 25.8%
USB drive 50 12 14 56.2%

How do you transfer files between campus and home computer? (Allowed multiple responses)

  Number Percentage
MySpace 26 29.2%
Floppy Disk 35 39.3%
Zip Disk 5 5.6%
CD-RW 6 6.7%
USB Storage Device 9 10.1%
Email the file to themselves 58 65.2%
Other 4 4.5%

Other transfer means

5. If you own a laptop please answer the following questions.
Note: all the percentages reported for this question are of the students who own a latptop - 50.  The difference from the number in questions #4 is most likely students who own both a laptop and desktop.

Does your laptop have a wireless card?

  Number Percentage
Yes 24 48.0%
No 24 48.0%
Don't know 2 4.0%

How often do you bring your laptop to campus??

  Number Percentage
Every day 2 4.0%
Several times a week 9 18.0%
Rarely 28 56.0%
Never 11 22.0%

What could the campus do to encourage you to bring your laptop to campus more often.?

  Number Percentage
Increase wireless coverage 30 60.0%
Increase number of available network ports 22 44.0%
 Increase available power outlets 23 46.0%
Offer wireless printing 25 50.0%
Other 6 12.0%

Other reasons:

Do you have any other comments about laptop usage?

6. If you are waiting for a computer in a lab, and one of the other type is available (ie. They own a PC but a Mac is available) you would:

  Number Percentage
Use the available computer 60 65.2%
Wait until the type you own is available 28 30.4%

7. Due to the instability of data on floppy disks, we have considered not including floppy drives for any new computers we purchase. How would this change affect you?

  Number Percentage
Not at all - I use other methods to transfer files 35 38.0%
A little - I sometimes use floppies 43 46.7%
A lot - I always use floppies 14 15.2%

8. Do you have any other suggestions or comments?

 


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Comments: labmanager@ucdavis.edu
URL: http://clm.ucdavis.edu/pubs/survey/student-w04-2.html
Last reviewed: Wed, 5-May-2004
Last updated: May 5, 2004